Butterfly-pea flower tea commonly known as Blue Tea is a caffeine-free herbal tea, or tisane, beverage made from a decoction or infusion of the flower petals or even whole flower of the Clitoria ternatea plant. Some use it for cooking ingredients, natural food coloring, traditional medicines, and herbal drinks. The Ayurvedic medicine tradition regards the flower as a tranquilizing, sedative, stress-reducing, and memory-enhancing herb. Adding other ingredients such as lemongrass, lemon juice, and spices can turn the color to pink and even purple.

This tea could be enjoyed cold or hot, especially good after a meal.

How to make: Place 2-3 flowers into a mug/cup and pour boiling water over. Wait a minute or two and enjoy a blue color coming out. This tea has a light, earthy flavor, like unsweetened green tea. You can drink it plain or with other ingredients, like lemon and honey. You can also turn the tea into various beverages, with beautiful color and unique flavor.

Ingredients: Butterfly Pea Flowers

Fun recipe using this tea: Moscow Mule

Moscow Mule is a great base to make a butterfly pea flower cocktail. The ingredients are simple, and you can enjoy it during a warm evening. The Gastronom Blog has a great recipe to try.

1. Boil water in a saucepan.

2. Steep butterfly pea flower in hot water for 4 minutes to get dark blue color.

3. Cool the flower tea, pour it into two ice cube trays and freeze.

4. Crush clear ice cubes and blue ice separately.

5. Fill half the mug with crushed clear ice. Add crushed blue ice on top.

6. Pour 10 ml of freshly squeezed lime juice.

7. Pour 60 ml of vodka.

8. Pour 170 ml of ginger beer.

9. Add crushed blue ice. Serve immediately.

Moscow Mule is usually consumed in a copper mug. Since this recipe showcases a beautiful color change from blue to purple, switch to a double-wall glass mug.